Our site uses cookies to provide you with the best possible user experience, if you choose to continue then we will assume that you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website. If you would like more information, please visit our cookie policy page.

Rationale

Intelligence sources show that Mid-Air Collision (MAC) remains a key risk in UK airspace, because of our busy, complex airspace serving significant military and general aviation (GA) activity (including sporting, leisure and business jets). The airspace continually evolves and draws together inputs from multiple stakeholders and is currently the subject of extensive ongoing change under the Single European Sky programme.

In 2016 there were 253
Airprox reports, of which 111 were considered risk-bearing. Of these risk bearing events, the majority involved general aviation, followed by those involving military aircraft; commercial air transport were involved with 48 of those events. It is worthy of note that the number of reported airproxes involving drones is rising most quickly. Alongside Airprox, NATS has confirmed that over 1,000 airspace infringements occur each year and this figure sets that issue as the highest risk event that NATS face at this time. As traffic levels increase it is important that we recognise the more likely need for focussed intervention, to ensure that the potential for mid-air collision does not increase.

MAC is a complex and long-term challenge and as such the MAC Programme aims to reduce the risk of mid-air collision by pursuing targeted and continuous improvements in systems, cultures, processes and capability. The MAC programme works closely and collaboratively with the UK Airprox Board, UK Flight Safety Committee, CAA UAS Programme, Military Aviation Authority and industry stakeholders to understand and assess risk and identify effective and collaborative mitigations. This programme also meets the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) requirement for Member States to address MAC in their safety plans.

Play the leading role in establishing and promoting local implementation priorities and actions to manage the risk of general aviation airspace infringement;

Implement the 2014 EASA recommendations on the loss of radar detection, and to consider implementation of other mitigation techniques against loss of detection of aircraft as a result of SSR over interrogation.

Outcomes

Mitigate the risk of MAC for consumers on UK aircraft operating both within UK and in overseas airspace.

Use multiple data sources, collaboration with industry and the exchange of information across national and international aviation sectors to identify and address the most significant MAC causal factors.

Employ a range of means including best practice recommendations, regulatory change, training and improved information sharing to mitigate the MAC risk.

Under the direction of the MAC Programme Board and scrutiny of the MAC Challenge Group, Industry groups (Airspace Infringement Working Group, Local Airspace Infringement Teams, Level Bust Working Group and the Electronic Conspicuity Working Group) are established to monitor trends and highlight areas to focus activity on MAC in a holistic and coordinated strategic, operational and tactical manner.

The programme has:

As
part of its five-point plan to address Airspace Infringements, the MAC has
successfully refocused the cross-industry Airspace Infringement Working Group
to concentrate on specific issues and projects, such as developing and
enhancing the work of Local Airspace Infringement Teams. The MAC has also made
great strides to enhance the CAA’s Infringement Oversight and Enforcement work
to improve the online infringement tutorial and test and to introduce an
airspace infringement awareness course to be attended by infringing pilots as
required by the CAA. Better information will also be made available to flight
training instructors and to those parties engaged in two yearly competency
checks.

Expanded the Terms of Reference of the MAC Level Bust Working Group to
effect the analysis of incidences of Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance
System Resolution Advisory (TCAS RA),
with close cooperation between MAC and related UK and International
stakeholders established.